Unlocking the mind-body connection: An HRV-based assessment of cardiac autonomic responses to yogic postures

The cardiac autonomic nervous system (CANS) plays a crucial role in regulating cardiovascular health. While yoga is considered an effective lifestyle intervention for enhancing autonomic regulation, most existing studies focus on the effects of meditation or breathing practices. Limited research exists on the influence of specific yogic postures on heart rate variability (HRV), a sensitive indicator of cardiac autonomic function. : This study aimed to investigate the immediate impact of specific yoga asanas, namely Padahastasana (PD), Ardha Chakrasana (AD), Ardhkatichakrasan Right (AKRD), Ardhkatichakrasan Left (AKLD), Trikonasana Right (TRD), Trikonasana Left (TLD), and Sarvangasana (SD) on HRV in healthy individuals. This observational pilot study was conducted with 30 healthy male volunteers aged 18–30 years. HRV was recorded for 15 minutes for each participant during the pre, during-, and post-asana phases. The frequency and time-domain components of HRV were analysed using SPSS 21.0. Significant changes were observed in the frequency domain parameters such as the LF/HF ratio, LF power, and HF power post-intervention. Notably, backward and inversion asana significantly increased vagal modulation, suggesting a shift towards parasympathetic dominance. The findings of this study indicate that specific yoga asana significantly modulate cardiac autonomic regulation, underscoring their potential utility in cardiovascular health and rehabilitation. Further research is warranted to explore the long-term impact of these postures on cardiac autonomic function.